What to plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12 × 6 ft · Zone 6a · 6+ hours of sun · Cottage

• Ninebark 'Summer Wine'

  × 1

  Physocarpus opulifolius 'Seward'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 5 ft apart · grows 5–6 ft tall · Jun

  Can't find it? Use Shrub rose 'Knock Out' or Dwarf panicle hydrangea 'Little Lime'.

• Dwarf fountain grass 'Hameln'

  × 3

  Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'

  Grass · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 2 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · Jul–Sep

  Can't find it? Use Northern sea oats or Pink muhly grass.

• Foxglove beardtongue 'Husker Red'

  × 7

  Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 2–3 ft tall · May–Jun

  Can't find it? Use English lavender 'Hidcote' or Meadow sage 'May Night'.

• Blanket flower 'Arizona Sun'

  × 10

  Gaillardia × grandiflora 'Arizona Sun'

  Filler · Front of bed · quart pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 0.5–1 ft tall · Jun–Oct

  Can't find it? Use Spike speedwell 'Royal Candles'.

• Creeping phlox

  × 5

  Phlox subulata

  Edge · Edge of bed · quart pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 3–6 in tall · Apr–May

  Can't find it? Use Cheddar pinks 'Firewitch' or Hens and chicks.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 83% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

12 × 6 ft · Zone 6a · 2–4 hours of sun · Classic

• Spreading yew 'Densiformis'

  × 1

  Taxus × media 'Densiformis'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 4.5 ft apart · grows 3–4 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Dwarf boxwood 'Green Gem' or Inkberry holly 'Shamrock'.

• Japanese painted fern 'Pictum'

  × 9

  Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'

  Grass · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Autumn fern or Japanese forest grass 'Aureola'.

• Coral bells 'Palace Purple'

  × 10

  Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia 'Palace Purple'

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Jun–Jul

  Can't find it? Use Lenten rose or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'

  × 7

  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

  Filler · Middle of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Apr–May

  Can't find it? Use Lenten rose or Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'.

• Japanese sedge 'Ice Dance'

  × 5

  Carex morrowii 'Ice Dance'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.3 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Japanese sedge 'Evergold' or Cranesbill 'Biokovo'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 80% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.

12 × 6 ft · Zone 6a · Under 2 hours of sun · Classic

• Smooth hydrangea 'Annabelle'

  × 2

  Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

  Structure · Back of bed · 3-gallon pot · 3.5 ft apart · grows 3–5 ft tall · Jun–Aug

• Japanese sedge 'Evergold'

  × 14

  Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

  Grass · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1 ft apart · grows 0.75–1 ft tall · Foliage plant

  Can't find it? Use Japanese painted fern 'Pictum' or Japanese forest grass 'Aureola'.

• Lenten rose

  × 7

  Helleborus × hybridus

  Filler · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Feb–Apr

  Can't find it? Use Astilbe 'Fanal' or Hosta 'Patriot'.

• Siberian bugloss 'Jack Frost'

  × 7

  Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'

  Filler · Front of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Apr–May

  Can't find it? Use Astilbe 'Fanal' or Hosta 'Patriot'.

• Hairy alumroot 'Caramel'

  × 5

  Heuchera villosa 'Caramel'

  Edge · Edge of bed · 1-gallon pot · 1.5 ft apart · grows 1–1.5 ft tall · Aug–Sep

  Can't find it? Use Coral bells 'Palace Purple' or Barrenwort 'Sulphureum'.

Mulch: 0.67 cu yd at 3 in deep (9 bags of 2 cu ft). Plants cover about 89% of the 72 sq ft bed when mature.